"Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce" sold at Walmart retailers nationwide were the subject of a public health alert issued on Thursday, Sept. 25.
Product labels for "Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce" shipped to Walmart stores nationwide.

A batch of ready-to-eat meals shipped to Walmart locations is the subject of a public health alert after federal health officials discovered that the product may have been contaminated with listeria previously linked to another recall.

According to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service notice alert on Thursday, Sept. 25, samples of the FDA-regulated and pre-cooked pasta from “Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce” were tested as part of an “ongoing investigation” into another listeria outbreak in June 2025.

The linguine used as an ingredient in the meal kit, which tested positive for listeria monocytogenes, was the same linguine used in FreshRealm’s Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo meals that caused three deaths and 16 hospitalizations.

“We have long maintained that the source of the listeria was likely an ingredient supplied by a third party,” FreshRealm said in a statement obtained by Associated Press.

Nate’s Fine Foods, based in Roseville, California, is the supplier of the pasta, according to the Sept. 25 notice alert. USA TODAY contacted Nate’s Fine Foods on Friday, Sept. 26, but has not received a response.

The agency is conducting additional testing to determine if the listeria is genetically related to the specific strain associated with the outbreak. “Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce” was shipped to Walmart stores nationwide.

“FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them,” the notice reads. “These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.”

Here’s what we know about the investigation so far, including how to remedy the situation.

What is listeria monocytogenes?

Listeria monocytogenes, or Lm, is a bacterium that causes listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, individuals with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and their newborns. Consumption of food contaminated with listeria can cause listeriosis, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Common listeriosis symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms, according to the Cleveland Clinic and the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Because listeriosis spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery in pregnant women, as well as life-threatening infection of the newborn. “Serious and sometimes fatal infections” can also occur in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems.

“Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food,” according to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

‘Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce’ product details

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said that anyone currently in possession of “Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce” should either toss or return it.

To check whether you own the affected product, verify the relevant product details below:

  • Product: 12-ounce clear plastic tray packages labeled “Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce”
  • “Best if used by” dates: Sept. 22, 2025, Sept. 24, 2025, Sept. 25, 2025, Sept. 29, 2025, Sept. 30, 2025, and Oct. 1, 2025.
  • Establishment number: EST. 50784 or EST. 47718

Consumers with questions regarding the public health alert can contact Nate’s Fine Foods by phone at (916) 677-7303 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Walmart meatball meals may be linked to deadly listeria outbreak, health officials say

Reporting by Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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